Tats the way to do it (Body Tattoos in general)

Member Name: freespirit1402

Product:	Body Tattoos in general
Date:	15/07/02 (275 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful Designs, Personalised Body Art

Disadvantages: Stings a lot, Can be expensive

I guess if you have read one of the really good opinions on this list you already know most of what there is to know. However, as a topic that interests me I thought I woul also write a review in the hope that I can add something useful or relevant to the discussion.

I have piercings and tattoos. I have my earlobes pierced - I also got the tops of my ears pierced but suffered an allergic reaction and the area swelled up - attractive no? Needless to say that set of piercings went very quickly. I also got my nose pierced - having been punched in the nose before I can honestly tell you that the feeling is identical - 3 days later that piercing went too.

Ok so piercing is definately not for me. tattooing, however, is a very different matter. I think I fell in love with tattoos when I was about fifteen. I cannot remember what sparked my interest but I can remember coming home and telling my mum "When I'm eighteen I am having one done." My Mum's a pretty sussed person and she knew forbidding me would simply make me go behind her back so she said that as long as I waited until I was eighteen she had no problem with it.

Three years later I turned eighteen. The day after my birthday I turned up at the tattoo parlour with my birthday money (My dad had a fit about this). I chose an eagle design as a Wiccan friend of mine had told me my guardian animal was an eagle and I liked the idea of having one sitting on my shoulder protecting me. It is picked out in small black blocks and is soaring towards the sky. My mum said she thought it was too big but I think that was a reactionary comment as most people tell me it's lovely.
At a later date I found the words Animus Liber - Latin for free spirit in a magazine and having been waiting to find an appropriate piece of writing to put under my eagle I disappeared straight off to the tattoo parlour to have it added.

About two months after the original tattoo I ha
d an urge to have a second and picked out a design of a heart with some design work around it for my ankle.

My final tattoo was done about a year ago. I waited a long time to find what I wanted for this final one. I had an idea in my head about my personal creed of Courage, Peace, Hope and Love. Having found Love as a chinese symbol and being struck with the design I decided to research the chinese for the other three virtues. After looking on the internet and asking a chinese lady I know I took my designand had my final tattoo done - this time running down my outer thigh. Of all three this is my favourite as it is so personal. My mum eventually came round so much that she had one done - my birthday present to her! She is Scottish so she had a Scottish thistle with Alba - the Gaelic for Scotland written underneath.

So what advice to give about tattoos? Well i will walk you through the process.

Step One : Making a decision. I know it gets said a lot but please please please be sure. I waited three years to get mine and by that time knew I would not change my mind. You are stuck with it for life or a hefty bill for removal which is not always successful. And no matter what anyone said it will hurt - how much is down to your personal pain threshold.

Step Two : The design. You have to decide where you want your tattoo. Areas directly over bone are most painful followed by very fleshy areas. My ankle was the worst to have done - I could have cried. My shoulder was lest painful. Also do you have to strip off in front of the tattoist? Pick your design carefully. You can choose from pictures at the tattoo parlour. If you are talented you can design one yourself or sometimes the tattooist will design it to your specifications although this may cost more. Another good thought is tattoo magazines. Lastly make sure the design is you. I regret my ankle design is not more personal as I had n o special reason for picking it as
I did with my other ones. I am thinking of having writing added to personalise it. You may not feel like I do and want one which has special meaning but do think about it. Also consider the size and cost - if it is too big you may have to make more than one trip to the tattooist. Big is not neccessarily bad but consider if it will look appropriate.

Step Three : The Tattoist. Many many issues here. Take time to prearrange a visit before getting your tattoo done. This will give you time to look at the designs and meet your tattoistThey will also let you know if they are walk in or appointment only. The place should be registered, often with a certificate placed somewhere. If you do not see one then ask. If they really are registered they will not mind this. My tattoist took the time to show me his equipment (Oo-er you know what i mean) and explain the process to me as well as check my age - a hugely important point. Make sure you get on with the tattoist. It sounds silly but the one time I did not go to the same tattooist I was tattooed in a different parlour by the most miserable git on the face of the planet. Not only did I hate the experience but it felt more painful somehow. I have not been to the tattoo parlour in over a year but if i walked back in tommorrow the guy who did my other three would recognise me, if not my name.

Step Four : The process. I would advise you to take a friend. The company takes your mind off it. The process begins with lining - a single needle traces the outline. This is the worst bit. The tattooist will prepare your skin with antiseptic to clean it then apply the transfer prior to starting. They should also regularly wipe away any blood which has appeared on the skin. Regular reapplications of antiseptic should be done - this keeps the skin from getting infected (It is also a blessed relief). The colouring is done with six closely compacted needles. By this time the skin is usually numb and you barel
y feel it.

Step Five: Aftercare. My tattooist applies a smear of a healing cream then puts clingfilm over the top. This stops the skin sticking to the dressing he applies over the top. The dressing comes off after two hours to allow air to begin the healing process. He also provides an after care leaflet with instuctions about good healing creams - he reccomends Preparation H (as used in Haemmorroids) or Lasonil. It also provides instructions not to get the tattoo too wet for the first fortnight through bathing or swimming and not to scratch the tattoo or pick at any scabs as this causes the tattoo to fade - I did scratch slightly with my eagle and as a result it is not as black as it could be although this makes it look slightly more ethereal and quite nice. I still wouldnt take the risk though!

I hope you enjoyed this read and it provided some useful information.
Happy hunting

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